Hi,

I've got a Sony Trinitron, PVM-2530, from the late 80's (one of the big 'cube monitors') that looks great. However, it has a problem. In fact, I've owned THREE, with the same problem.

Every so often, the screen will go blank. It makes a little 'psheew' sound, and the image disappears. It is as though the tube is going dead. Nothing will restore it, save turning the monitor off, and then back on again. And even then, it will often turn on for a second, then immediately shut off. The rest of the TV continues to work, audio, input switching, etc.

It seems worse when its cold, and seems to happen less when its warm. Sometimes the TV will go for days without doing it, other times it will do it every few minutes, making it unwatchable.

Two that I owned before this one (I got the three together, surplus), got so bad that they became useless. This last one is marginal... I can get through a whole movie about half the time.

Any insight? Any common part failures I should look into? Any idea on where I could get a service manual?

Thanks!
Sam

Sam,

I've seen (on ebay) this seller who deals with professional video gear and he often has the 2530 for sale.He may have the service manual for it.I'll include a link to his ebay store and the rest is up to you.

I have a PVM-2030 I use in the bedroom.Quite impressive for old technology.I've not had the power problems you're experiencing,however.Wish I could offer more help.

I'm from St. Louis.Was born there,but left in the late 50's.Have fond memories of listening to Harry Caray(sp) and Jack Buck broadcasting the Cardinals.Stan the man was our idol back then.

Duane

Sam,

Would have been nioce to add the link....


http://stores.ebay.com/DAVID-RIDDLE-COMPANY

Bad solder joints most likely.

I have a 1990 XBR that started doing the same thing when it was two years old, Sony apparently had many solder problems around that time.

I had to pull the chassis and solder everything that looked remotely suspicious, actually I had to pull it twice before I found the problem.

...

I second Andy's thoughts. The HVR block is a plastic box (clear with red inside) that is screwed to the side of the rear picture tube metal housing. Has the anode lead coming out the top to the picture tube along with a the raw HV wire to the flyback. I used to see PLENTY of those HVR blocks failed this way. A quick test is to cut the thin red wire that goes from the bottom back of the HVR block to the main board. It has a gray plug at the board, but the plug has a safety jumper so if you unplug it the TV wont power up. (because they don't want you to do this, technically) So you have to cut or unsolder the wire. If the problem persists, it's probably NOT the HVR block. If it goes away, replace the block!

DANGER: DO NOT leave the wire disconnected for months while using the TV. If the block is bad, it could eventually crack the picture tube or make excess high voltage and X-ray you. So cut the red wire ONLY for test purposes. Do it when the TV is acting up, so you will know shortly if that's it or not. ALSO: there is a high voltage that can arc from that wire. Keep it safely taped off and away from any parts that it could zap.

Charles

Thanks for the comments, everyone! I'll see about getting a service manual, and I'll try out the HVR block test. If its a common failure, then it could be a good lead, like I said, I've had this failure on THREE of these monitors. Its annoying, because the monitors look great!

If that block appears to be the culprit, where would you get one? Are there TV repair shops online that sell parts like this, or would I need to go through Sony? Or through a used TV being parted out?

Thanks,
Sam

Ah, I've been given enough information to start doing some research! Previously my attempts were stymied by the fact that I had no idea what I was even looking for, but now I've found this:

http://www.repairfaq.org/REPAIR/F_monfaqd.html#MONFAQD_012

It appears this is the same part you guys are refering to.. Its a bit inconsistently named, but now I know what to go after. I'll give this a try, and report back. Will likely still need a source for this part, however.

peace,
sam

Yes; the HVR block has zillions of names. I think Sony calls it the Resistor Block Ass'y, and others call it the divider network, Horizontal Stat control block, and on & on. There are also a couple of names for it that are not suitable to post on a website :nono:

There are several Sony parts suppliers, and DEFINITELY get a real SONY part!!! There are lots of fakes out there, and they don't always work very well and can do all kinds of damage.

For the West Coast, the Sony suppliers are Martin Distributing (800) 660-8771, and Andrews Electronics (800) 289-0300. Both of those are wholesalers, but Martins has a retail desk too. Not sure about Andrews.

Andrews site is http://www.andrewselectronics.com/

If Martins has one, it isn't on my old SAMS book sticker.

Charles

Thanks, I think I found the part on the andrews website:

Its called the HV RESISTOR on one page, listed as a part for the PVM2530, and then when you click it to look at details, it calls it the RESISTOR ASSY/HIGH-V, and it costs $48.47. Unfortunately, it doesn't give me an actual part number. I suppose I'll have to give them a call about that.

Thanks so much, this problem has been frustrating me for a few YEARS, and has, on several occasions, nearly driven me to go down to Circuit City and buy a new TV, which would require me to spend way more money than I have to get something that would beat this old '88 pro monitor. I'm hoping that this is the problem, it will make my life much easier. :)

This has been a very fruitful forum for me.. I've only been a member for two weeks, and I'm already hot on the trail of repairing my monitor, and my phase linear amp, two projects which have been forced to the sidelines for a long time.

EDIT: More about this particular issue, relating to Apple branded sony monitors: http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive/Archive/info/hdwr/apple-13in-monitor-fix-r2.txt

peace,
sam

Unfortunately... Some tests have revealed that this HVR block (called the H. STAT on the unit itself, p/n 1-230-712-22), is probably not the problem... I disconnected the thin red wire coming out of the base of the unit and insulated it. The TV ran great for a few hours, and then, started doing the shut-off thing again. Now, I can't even get it to stay on for more than a few seconds.. :(

I'll reconnect the little red wire, and then start looking for bad solder joints.

Any other ideas of what to check?

Thanks,
Sam

To bring this back up, I think I've got it fixed!

I was thinking about my tests I had done, and I thought that maybe the TV was smart enough to know if someone defeated the block. And since I had, it wasn't working for me.

I tried to order the replacement part from a few places, but no one would sell it to me! "Oh, thats a high voltage part, we can't sell you that unless you are an authorized service center." "You sure? I know what I'm doing." "It doesn't matter, we could lose our parts contract with Sony if we did!"

But I finally found Sony's own parts center: http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/web/index.jsp

And lo and behold, I placed an order, and it arrived! How odd, that Sony would sell me the 'dangerous' part, but no one else would...

BTW, the new part number is 1-230-712-23, and its white and orange, instead of red and clear. Physically, however, it is the same size and shape, with the same connections and inputs, and Hstat control.

It was a royal pain removing the red flyback wire from the original block, but I finally got it.

The TV has now been running for about 3 hours continuously, without a hickup! Thats the longest its gone in MONTHS, so I'm inclined to think that its fixed.

I owe you guys a long-distance beer or something. I gave myself an ultimatum the other day. I was going to buy this 48$ part, and if it didn't work, I was going to take the Sony to the dump, and go buy a new direct view HDTV with the longest replacement plan they would sell me. My credit card is happy that this solution seems to be working! Now I don't need a new TV!

Thanks for all the help.

Peace,
sam